Daily Bible Verses for 1/17/2017

Daily Verse(s)
You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Reading Notes
Here in these passages, Jesus makes it clear to His disciples that He chose them not because of their merit, but because of His love and His sovereign choice. The purpose of God’s sovereign election of believers is that we, through Him, would always bear fruit. We have been blessed with the Bible, which is the special revelation of God, regarding Himself and His plan of redemption! Therefore, both by the Holy Spirit who indwells us and through God’s written revelation about Himself, which is the Bible, we grow in Christ and become more effective in God’s kingdom work. In addition, the Holy Spirit enlightens and therefore deepens our understanding of scripture as we study God’s word. This is because of our relationship with God, which has been restored by our faith in Jesus. With our salvation comes the understanding of who Jesus is and what He means to us. This knowledge changes how we view scripture, and opens up our understanding of the Bible. We better understand God’s plan of redemption and His interactions with humanity, in light of who Jesus is and what He has done for all of mankind.

Jesus also told His followers when speaking of the scriptures, “they are those which testify of Me.” God’s word the Bible in its entirety speaks of God’s plan of redemption. Therefore, the Bible from the first page to the last page, is about Jesus Christ our Lord, and God’s plan of redemption for mankind. Which means we as followers of Jesus, and co-heirs with Him in the kingdom of God, are called to spread the “Good News” of salvation in His name. We as children of God adopted into the family of God through our faith in Christ, have no greater responsibility, no greater calling, than to preach the Gospel of Christ to those who are lost in a dark and dying world. And when we seek Jesus and we follow His will through the guidance and promptings of the Holy Spirit, we begin to align our will with God’s will. And when that happens and we submit to God, His power works through us and we bear fruit, which brings people to faith in Christ. This happens because the Holy Spirit works in their hearts, through the Gospel Message displayed in our lives. God’s word and our love for Jesus, is displayed through our actions and treatment of others, and gives evidence of our faith to those who are lost in a world at enmity with God.